Wilhelm Keitel Wilhelm Keitel was a Nazi, and Chief of Staff in the German High Command. Wilhelm was a very smart man, with an IQ of 129. Keitel, throughout World War II, seemed very evil. He supported the killing of commandos that had been captured, and authorized the “Night and Fog” capturing. This meant that Keitel legalized the capture of suspected resistance fighters in there homes at night. Though he blamed Hitler for all the wrongdoing, many of Keitel’s actions were of his own choice. His defense at Nuremburg blamed Hitler for everything, but this didn’t hold in court. Keitel was found guilty of all four counts. He was sentenced to death by hanging. He was hanged on October 16, 1946. 1. Mr. Keitel, why do you think you are here? “I followed all of my direct orders from Mr. Hitler.” 2. So do you blame the former Fuhrer and commander for this trial? “Like I said, Adolf Hitler gave us the commands, and instilled such fear in us that refusal was not an option.” 3. You remained in the German High Command for the whole war. Doesn’t this make you guilty? “If that is so, let it be. But let it also be known that Hitler is to blame.” 4. You helped plan attacks on the Czech, Poland, Holland, and Belgium. Is that wrong to you? “At the time I was just acting for my country. But now I feel utmost remorse.” 5. Do you think you will be found guilty in any counts? After all, you waged war against other countries. “I believe that in regard to the counts at hand, I am guilty. I will be the first to admit.” 6. What about crimes against humanity? What role did you play in that? “Well I singled out Jews and Resistance fighters when I authorized the Night and Fog decree. I made the Final Solution more of reality, once again, on Hitler’s orders.” 7. What about the attack on the Soviets you helped plan, in which your sons were killed? “Looking back, I regret not only that attack, but every other. Germany lost a few great men that day.” 8. What, considering the war, do you think your punishment should be? “I obviously don’t have the right to choose that. I will be content with what is chosen for me.”
Wilhelm KeitelWilhelm Keitel was a Nazi, and Chief of Staff in the German High Command. Wilhelm was a very smart man, with an IQ of 129. Keitel, throughout World War II, seemed very evil. He supported the killing of commandos that had been captured, and authorized the “Night and Fog” capturing. This meant that Keitel legalized the capture of suspected resistance fighters in there homes at night. Though he blamed Hitler for all the wrongdoing, many of Keitel’s actions were of his own choice. His defense at Nuremburg blamed Hitler for everything, but this didn’t hold in court. Keitel was found guilty of all four counts. He was sentenced to death by hanging. He was hanged on October 16, 1946.
1. Mr. Keitel, why do you think you are here?
“I followed all of my direct orders from Mr. Hitler.”
2. So do you blame the former Fuhrer and commander for this trial?
“Like I said, Adolf Hitler gave us the commands, and instilled such fear in us that refusal was not an option.”
3. You remained in the German High Command for the whole war. Doesn’t this make you guilty?
“If that is so, let it be. But let it also be known that Hitler is to blame.”
4. You helped plan attacks on the Czech, Poland, Holland, and Belgium. Is that wrong to you?
“At the time I was just acting for my country. But now I feel utmost remorse.”
5. Do you think you will be found guilty in any counts? After all, you waged war against other countries.
“I believe that in regard to the counts at hand, I am guilty. I will be the first to admit.”
6. What about crimes against humanity? What role did you play in that?
“Well I singled out Jews and Resistance fighters when I authorized the Night and Fog decree. I made the Final Solution more of reality, once again, on Hitler’s orders.”
7. What about the attack on the Soviets you helped plan, in which your sons were killed?
“Looking back, I regret not only that attack, but every other. Germany lost a few great men that day.”
8. What, considering the war, do you think your punishment should be?
“I obviously don’t have the right to choose that. I will be content with what is chosen for me.”